Arch support



April 2, 1929. T. E. KING 1,707,525

ARCH SUPPORT Filed Nov. 24, 1926 (Z57. Z I

A TTORNE Y.

8 3 INVENTOR. I

Zfiazzzas vPatented Apr. "2 1 -29. I p v NITED [STATES THQMAS n. Krnefor srnmermrn, MASSACHUSETTS.

Anon. surron'r.

Application filed. Nove mber24, 1926. Serial No. 150,472( Q 4 This invention relates to improvements in. arch supports. r

An object of the invention is toprovide an elastic cushion device for supporting the 5 muscles and the metatarsal bones of the foot and, at the same time providing an article that may be easily inserted and removed. It is designed and adapted to fit directly below the arch of the foot and rest on the insole ofthe shoe. v

The purpose of the invention is to provide an elastic pad for supporting-the arch portion of the foot of persons who are suffering from fallen or broken arches. One of the advantages of the present invention is the soft and elastic properties of sponge rubber which automatically accommodates itself to the contour of the bottom of the arch portion of the foot. Another advantage 0 is in the covering layers of cotton batting which is compressible like the sponge rubber and will return to its original shape after compression. The outer covering of soft leather is also comfortable. Since the'pa'd is of equal thickness on the opposite sides of its median plane it maybe inserted under the foot with either side uppermost. i

It is a well known factthat persons suffering from fallen arches require'an article that will exert an upward sustaining pressure. The present pad being of a compressible and elastic nature serves to effectually support and relieve the fallen arch.

Broadly considered it comprises a center. or core member of sponge rubber of suitable thickness and length. Around this core is wrapped several layers of soft material, as cotton or wool fibres and outside ofthis material is placed an'inclosing casing preferably of leather which is soft and pliable. In

. other words the leather casing forms'a sac to receive the arch supporting material.

The sponge rubber possesses the characteristic properties of being cellular in structure and very elastic while the layers of cotton or wool are alsoelastic and are softer than the sponge rubber. p

The weight of the foot serves to compress the support and when the weight is relieved it immediately returns to its normal position by reason of its elastic properties thus materially strengthening the muscles of the foot and maintaining the metatarsal bones in their normal positlon.

Referrlng to the drawlngsz I a Fig. 1 is a side elevationalviewof the cushion support partially in section showing the foot in the shoe and the support locatedin the arch portion of the foot.

Fig.2 is a plan view-of the complete article. I i i Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2 showing the interior construction.

" Fig. 4 is a plan View illustrating a portion of the foot, the shoe'in dotted lines, and the location of thesupport which extends trans versely of the foot, and

1 is understood to designate the foot; 2.

the inclosing shoe; 3 designatesthe pad as a Whole whlch is composed of a center or-core member 4 consisting of sponge rubber which possesses the desirable properties of being PATENT" OFFICE. p 3

highly elastic, cellular in structure and como I fortable for the wearer. r

Wrapped around the core portion 4 are several layers of cotton batting. 5 and lo- ,cated outside of the layers of cotton batting is theinclosing casing or sac of soft leather, indicated at 6, which is stitched together as indicated by the dotted lines 7;

, Reference is made to Figs/4t and 5 which show how the arch support is used. It will be'noticed that the support or pad extendscompletely across from oneside of thefoot to the'other and occupies a position under 1 the arch or instep portion of the foot which is clearly shown .in Figs. 1 and 4.

' Preferably this support isinserted in the shoe outside of the stocking, although if desired, it may be placed inside of the stocking. In either case, the operation of the As shownin Fig. 5 the support or pad 3 is located outside of the stocking.

The supports or pads may be readily'made of different sizes and thicknesses to accommodate the individual wearer. The arch supporting device maybe cheaply made as it i is constructed of inexpensive material, and requires very little labor. I r

It will be noticed that the support or pad is symmetrical with respect to the horizontal plane or line indicated byythe reference numeral 8, Fig. 5, or, in other words the support is of equal thickness on both sides ofthis line whereby it may be inserted Without reference to either its upper or lower surface.

It will be observed from the plan View in Fig. 2 that the support is practically equal in length and breadth.

What I claim is:

An arch support comprising a core member of soft sponge rubber material, layers of cotton batting Wrapped around the said core member of sponge rubber and an inclosing casing or sac of pliable leather stitched together and located outside of the layers of cotton batting, the thickness of the upper and lower parts of the pad being substantially equal with relation to a horizontal plane passing through the center of the pad the Whole designed to be reversible and to extend transversely the full Width of the in- 20 step of the foot.

THOMAS E. KING. 

